Kiln.



PATBNTED NOV. 8, 1904.-

W. N. WEIR.

KILN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

r a W 1 I a 1 l d w ATTORNEYS No. 774,544. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. W. N. WEIR.

KILN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q Q IIVVEAITOH ill I iamfl. Weir.

WITNESSES:

No. 774,544. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. W. N. WEIR.

KILN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IVVENTOH W21 Zz'am A Wei):

WITNESSES: b

ATTORNEYS UNTTEE STATES Patented November 8, 1 904.

PAT NT EETcE.

KlLN.

SBEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,544, dated. November 8, 1904. Application filed August 4, lO'l. Serial No. 219,468- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,VV1LLIAM N. WEIR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South River, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Kiln, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved kiln more especially designed for burning bricks and other clayware and arranged to utilize the fuel to the fullest advantage, and thereby render the kiln exceedingly economical, at the same time permitting a continuous operation.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the vie ws.

Figure l is a plan view of a plant having a battery of eight kilns. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of one of the kilns, the section being on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section ofthe same on the line A 4" of Fig. 3.

In Fig l are illustrated two sets of kilns A A A A and A", A A, and A ,'of which the kilns A, A, A and A are grouped around a chimney B and the kilns A*, A A, and

A are grouped around another chimney,

B; but the kilns are connected with each other, as hereinafter more fullyidescribed, to' allow of using each set of kilns singly or the kilns in the two sets in proper rotation to insure a continuous operationthat is, a continuous burning of bricks or other clayware.

Each of the kilns is of the downdraft type, and as the kilns are alike in construction it suflices to describe butone in detail.

Each of the kilns is mainly built of brickwork lined with fire-clay where necessary, and the hub C of each kiln preferably extends partly down into the ground and rises partly above the ground, as plainly shown in Fig. 2,

and from the hub rises the annular main wall D, sustaining thedome or crown E. In thehub C are built and spaced about the main fire-boxes F, which discharge the heat into a space Gr, extending between the inner face of the main wall D and the outer face of a fire or flash wall H, rising from the hub C within the main chamber of the: kiln and spaced from the face of the main wall, as plainly indicated in the drawings. The top of the flash-wall H terminates a distance below the beginning of the dome E, so that the heat rising up behind the flash-wall strikes the dome and is deflected by the latter in a downward direction to pass through the bricks or other clayware set up on the perforated floor I of the main chamber. Access is had to the main chamber of the kiln through one or more suitable doors J, extending through-a portion of the hub C, side wall D, and the flash-wall H. (See Figs. 3 and at.)

By the arrangement described the green material to be burned can be readily carried and set up on the perforated floor I, and after -.the ware has been burned it can be readily removed through the said doors.

Below the perforated bottom I of the kiln are arranged cross-fines K, opening at their I flue L of one kiln is connected by a branch flue P with the annular chamber 0 of the-next following kiln, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and each branch flue P is provided with a suitable valve or damper P for closing the branch flue P to the annular chamber 0 of the next kiln. The annular chamber 0 of each kiln is provided with auxiliary fire-boxes arranged alternately with the fire-boxes F, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that heat rising from these auxiliary fire-boxes may be within the kiln is the said valve or damper Q- opened to allow the surplus heat to pass into the receiver R and from the latter by either oneor both of the pipes R or E into the corresponding receiver R of the adjacent kilns to allow this heat to pass by way of the corresponding bull-hole E into the top of the adjacent kiln.

In using the kiln A it is'presumed that the green bricks or other ware to be burned is placed on the floor I andthe doors J, as well as the valve P, closed, and heat is passed into the kiln from the fire-boxes F by burning a suitable fuel therein, the heat rising from the fire-boxes through the annular space Gr into the top of the kiln, to then pass in a downward direction through the green bricks, to then pass to the perforated floor I into the crosschannels K, and from the latter into the main flue L, from which the heat, with the moisture carried along from the green bricks, passes by way of the branch flue N and its open valve N into the chimney B. While this is going on in the kiln A the kiln A is filled with the green bricks or other clayware to be burned, and after the main moisture has been taken out of the green bricks contained in the kiln A then the operator closes the valve or damper N and opens the valve or damper P, so that the heat from the kiln A now passes from the main flue L by way of the branch flue P into the annular chamber O of the kiln A and then passes from this annular chamber O by way of the branch flue O and the annular space G into the main chamber of the kiln A and in a downward direction therein, so as to pass through the green ware to begin the first stage of burning the same. The heat and moisture passing through the floor I of the kiln A finally passes into the cross-fines K, the main 'flue L, and then by the branch flue N and its open valve into the chimney B, the valve P in the branch flue P and leading from the kiln A to the kiln A being closed for the time being.

From the foregoing it will be seen that instead of wasting the heat from the main kiln A by way of the chimney B the heat is utilized after the main moisture has been removed from the bricks in the kiln A to pass through the kiln A and green bricks contained therein to remove the initial moisture from these bricks without requiring firing up of the fireboxes F in the kiln A. After awhile the valve N in the branch flue N, leading from the kiln A to the chimney B, is closed, and

the valve P in the branch flue P, leading from the kiln A to the kiln A, is opened, so that the heat can now pass from the kiln A through the green bricks set in the kiln A*that is, the heat from the fire-boxes in the kiln A may be conducted through the kiln A and the kiln A before passing into the chimney.

The above-described operation is repeated relatively to the following kilns, A, A, A, A and A in the order given, it being understood that whenever necessary the fire-boxes F are fired up to supply the desired heat to its particular kiln and to one, two, or more following kilns.

If there is surplus heat in one of the kilns, the damper or valve Qis opened, so as to conduct the suplus heat into another kiln or to any other suitable place, if desired, but mainly to another kiln, so as to supply the same with heat, which passes in a downward direction through the green material contained in this kiln.

In case the two sets of kilns described are not used, but only one set at a time, then the heat from the main flue L of the kiln A is conducted by a branch flue P having a valve P", into the annular chamber 0 of thekiln A, from which the heat can pass partly into the chimney by the branch flue N or by the branch flue P into the annular space Gin the kiln A", and the heat from the latter can be passed to the chimney or to the kiln A, and in a similar manner the heat from the kiln A can be passed into the kiln A from the latter into the kiln A", from the latter into the kiln A, and from the latter into a branch flue P, having a valve P into the kiln A. Thus the two sets of kilns can be used independently of each other, and the heat from the kiln A may be conducted by a flue P (see Fig. 1) to another kiln or to any other drying device.

By the use of the flash-wall H in the dome E the heat is evenly spread throughout the main chamber and its contents to insure a proper burning of the material.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in using a battery of, say, eightkilns, as shown in Fig. 1, it is possible to-burn bricks continuouslythat is, by the time the several kilns are used in rotation the first kiln is emptied of its contents and reloaded with green material at the time it is desirable to close the damper N of the branch flue N, leading from the kiln A to the chimney, so that the heat from the kiln A can pass by way of the branch flue P and its now opened damper P to the kiln A and its new charge of green material.

As but a few valves need be controlled, it is evident that the kilns can be readily manipulated by the use of practically unskilled labor. By arranging the annular chamber 0 in the hub C of a kiln it is evident that the heat passing through this chamber keeps the hub and foundation-work of the kiln dry, thus preserving the kiln from disintegration and insuring long life to the kiln.

By the use of the kiln as described a uni form heating of the bricks or other ware is accomplished, especially as during the first? rality of kilns grouped around the same, each comprising a main chamber for containing the ware to be burned, said chamber having a perforate bottom and a flash-wall, an annular chamber in the wall of the kiln opening into the space behind the flash-wall, said space being closed at the bottom, and a main flue below said perforate bottom having a valved connection with said chimney and a valved connection with the annular chamber of the next following kiln.

2. The combination with a chimney,ofa pluralityof kilns grouped around the chimney and each comprising a main chamber for containing the ware to be burned, the main chamber having a perforate bottom and a flashwall, an annular chamber in the wall of the kiln and opening into the space behind the flash-wall, said space being closed at the bottom, a main flue below the said perforate bottom and having a valved connection with the said chimney and a valved connection with the annular chamber of the next following kiln, and-main fire-boxes in the wall of the kiln discharging into the space behind the said flash-wall.

3. The combination with a chimney,of a plurality of kilns grouped around the chimney and each comprising a main chamber for containing the ware to be burned, the main chamber having a perforate bottom and a flashwall, an annular chamber in the wall of the kiln and opening into the space behind the flash-wall, said space being closed at the bottom, cross-fines below the said perforate bottom, a main flue into'which discharge the said cross-fines, the main flue havinga valved connection with the said chimney, and a valved connection with the annular chamber of the next kiln.

4. The combination with a chimney,of a plurality of kilns grouped around the chimney and each comprising a main chamber for containing the ware to be burned, the main chamber having a perforate bottom and a flashwall, an annular chamber in the wall of the kiln and opening into the space behind the flash-wall, said space being closed at the bottom, cross-fines below the said perforate bottom, a main line into which discharge the said cross-fines, the main flue having a valved connection with the said chimney and a valved connection with the annular chamber of the next kiln, and main fire-boxes in the wall of the kiln and discharging into the said space behind the flash-wall.

5. The combination with a chimney,ofa plurality of kilns grouped around the chimney and each comprising a main chamber for contain- 5 ing the ware to be burned, the main chamber having a perforate bottom and a-flasli-wall, an annular chamber in the wall of the kiln and opening into the space behind the flash-wall, said space being closed all around at the bottom,a main flue below the said perforate bottom and having a valved connection with the said chimney and a valved connection with the annular chamber of the next following kiln, main fire-boxes in the wall of the kiln and discharging into the space behind the said flashwall,'a valved bull-hole in the top of the kiln,

a receiver closed to the atmosphere and into which opens the said bull-hole, and fines connecting the receiver of one kiln with the receiver of another kiln.

6. Akilncomprisinga hub, amain wall having a dome, a flash-wall, fire-boxes in the said hub, and opening into the space between the flash-wall and the main wall, said space being closed at the bottom, a perforate bottom for the kiln, cross-channels under the same, a main flue into which open the said cross-channels, and an annular chamber in the said hub having communication with the space behind the flash-wall.

7. A kiln comprising ahub, a main wall having a dome, aflash-wall, fire-boxes in the said hub, and opening into the space between the flash-wall and the main wall, said space being closed at the bottom, a perforate bottom for the kiln, cross-channels under the same,a main flue into which open the said cross-channels, an annular chamber in the said hub having communication with the space behind the flash-wall,

hub and opening into the space between the flash-wall and the main wall, said space being closed at the bottom, a perforate bottom for the kiln, cross-channels under the same, a main flue into which open the said cross-channels, an annular chamber in the said hub having comm unication with the space behind the flashwall, a valved bull-hole in the top of the dome,

a heat-receiver into which opens the said bullhole, said receiver being closed to the atmosphere, and distributing-pipes leading from the said heat-receiver.

9. A kiln having a main chamber provided with a perforated floor and a flash-wall, main fire-boxes leading to the space between the kiln-wall and the flaslrwall, said space being closed at the bottom, and an annular chamber having auxiliary fire-boxes and in communication with the said space behind the flash- Wall.

10. A kiln having amain chamber provided with a perforated floor and a flash-wall, main fire-boxes leading to the space between the kiln-wall and the flash-Wall, said space being closed at the bottonman annular chamber having auxiliary fire-boxes and in communication With the said space behind the flash-Wall, and heat-conducting flues leading into the said annular chamber.

11. A kiln having a main chamber provided with a perforate Floor and a flash-wall, main fire-boxes leading to the space between the kiln-wall and the flash-wall, said space being closed at the bottom,an annular chamber hav ing auxiliary fire-boxes and in communication with the said space behind the flash-wall, crossflues under the said perforate floor, and a main flue into which open the cross-fines, the main flue having a valved outlet to a chimney and a valved heat-conducting flue leading to the annular chamber of another kiln.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM N. WVEIR.

\Vitnesses:

'lnno. Gr. HOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARsI-IALI. 

